The more detailed Account of the Ascension of Christ, given by Luke in Acts i. 1-14. THE former narration I made, O Theophilus, concerning all things which Jesus began both to do and to teach,1 until the day when, after having, through the holy spirit, given charge to the Apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up into heaven: to whom also, after he suffered, he showed himself alive, by many infallible proofs; presenting himself to be seen by them during forty days, and declaring things concerning the kingdom of God. And having assembled them together, he charged them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father, "which," he said, "ye have heard from me : for John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the holy spirit, not many days hence." They therefore, having come together, asked him, saying, "Lord! art thou at this time restoring the kingdom to Israel?” But he said unto them, "It is not yours to know times or seasons, which the Father hath placed in his own disposal : but ye shall receive power when the holy spirit cometh upon you; and ye shall be witnesses to me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the extremity of the earth." 2 And having said these things, while they were beholding him, he was taken up from the earth; and a cloud beneath removed him from their eyes. And as they were steadfastly looking towards heaven, while he was departing, lo! two men stood near them in white raiment, who also said, "Men of Galilee! why stand ye looking up towards heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you to heaven, will come again in the same manner as ye have seen him going to heaven." Then they returned tc 1 Or, both did and taught. 2 Or, of the land. Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem, at a distance of a sabbath-day's journey. And when they had entered the city, they went up into the upper chamber; 1 and there abode Peter and James, and John and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all with one consent continued in prayer, together with certain women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. 1 v. H. n. |